A Dragon's Heart // Shoto Todoroki x OC

Chapter 44: Deprivation

Amara POV

"Did you hear Endeavor is the new number one hero now that All Might is retired?" I heard shards of random conversations scatter around me like raindrops. From what I could tell, it was my dragon senses growing back.

It was true; Endeavor finally got his number one crown, though I wasn't sure what it meant for Shoto. His father had always been a taboo topic, and it made him uncomfortable whenever I asked. I felt the invisible anguish cast a shadow upon our relationship. Shoto had been acting on edge since Endeavor got crowned. I completely understood the complicated father relationship as well, so I knew not to push him.

I still felt sick, my sinuses full of disease as they throbbed inside my skull. I hobbled aimlessly around the common room of the dormitory, without anything to do. My nose violently itched, making my eyes drown in tears before they squeezed shut to sneeze. Flames licked the floorboards before me, thankfully not taking shape, allowing me to continue wasting my day—stress-free.

"Turn the TV on!" Shoto yelled as he came running in out of nowhere. There goes my stress-free day. I raised both brows at him, surprised at his frantic actions, but I bit my tongue. With my electricity, I sent a tiny shock of energy toward the TV and turned it on without needing to lift a finger.

The screen came to life as the news channel played. Its contents made my heart freeze inside me: it was Endeavor, and he was fighting a Nomu. It wasn't going well. I glanced quickly at Shoto, who watched in horror as he saw his father get pummeled. My bottom lip quivered as I inched toward him and wrapped an arm around him. He seemed suspended in time, not acknowledging my presence anymore.

My mind flickered back to what I'd been told by All for One and Shigaraki: that I was given these quirks for evil, meant to be the ultimate Nomu that would bring the destruction of society as we knew it. I mean, look at me. I already have multiple quirks, including regeneration. I was pretty much a Nomu at this point, just on the "hero" team. It made me sick.

It didn't take long for the entire class to swarm the TV, staring in astonishment as Endeavor got his ass handed to him. It made me sick to think that the Nomu could've been me. It almost was me, but something didn't go as planned for Shigaraki.

"I'm sorry, I need to go," I mumbled to Shoto, who stood as still as a statue beside me. He did not acknowledge my absence when I turned back to look at him. I picked up my pace and made my way toward the main school building; I wanted to talk to my Dad. I felt that asking him about my mother would help me feel somewhat normal.

His office came into view shortly, and I ambled toward it. My ears twitched before I heard the conversation behind the door perfectly clear.

"How bad can she really be?" I heard an unknown masculine voice ask.

"She can tear apart mountains with her bare hands. I've seen entire armies wither and retreat at the sight of her. Hell, she could probably topple this entire academy without breaking a sweat. Believe me when I say she can kill you or anyone within a single second, with elegance and beauty and—" My father's voice ceased when I accidentally stumbled against the door clumsily. I couldn't help but listen intently to the conversation behind the door, but I used the silence as a reason to enter. Without a second thought, I opened the door.

The room revealed my Dad, of course, with his usual stoic face and this new person I had never seen before. His pale face seemed to brighten at the sight of me, his dull purple eyes matching the color of his hair. He had dark patches of exhaustion underneath his eyes that matched my father's.

I stumbled clumsily upon entry, feeling my face glow in embarrassment, mentally scolding myself for my clumsiness.

"What are you doing here?" Dad asked.